Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-08
oMy Mr.. Arnold Fox has como back /

"My Mr. Arnold Fox has como backi
Come, little mamma; here he isW
[ Natalie, with sparkling eyes and bright
color in her checks came quickly and eager
" forward and took the outstretched hand
Of her visitor, who held Dolores upon his
shoulder with the other.
Fairfax had never seen her looking more
lovely. She was radiantly beautiful. 1t
required all the will that he could summon
to carry out the part he had decided TO play,
and not TO assume the natural role Of the
lover.
"Oh, Mr.. Fox, your aunt and all Of us"-
who ''all Of us" were she didn't explain
shave been so disturbed by your absence"
"Ahl" returned he, with slight rising
infection. II am very sorry TO have made
such disturbance When returned ro-
coived orders to proceed directly over to
Ed Field, and make ample apologies for my
sins and delinquencies. l hope have Miss
Rochefort's forgiveness"-this last with q
graceful bow and frank pleasant smile.
Natalie replied in tho same merry vein :
"Certainly, II Mr.. Fox will promise never
TO do so again"
! ~ promise, and faithfully will fulfill" no
returned, again bowling with mock chivalry
! "Here,m continued he, taking a roll Of
music from his pocket, ''are several songs
that have just received, compositions Of
an old friend of mino, college chum, John
Castro, and most charming fellow. l am
anxious to hear thom. Win you not sing
them for mein
She sang the songs, that proved-one Of
them especially-unusually good.
Like almost every other action Of his in
connection with his prisoner, this little meet
ing was entirely prearranged. He had re-
turned that morning to Glen Gore, and i'm
mediately written Il note to Blanche.
One sentence in this note ran thus:
7 "When your mistress and Dolores, with
Max, are all together this morning in the
mushroom, and likely to remain so for a
half hour or more, throw open tho blinds Of
the windows of the north chamber, toward
my cottage; then so down stairs and open
the upper half Of the hall door"
His instructions had been followed to the
letter, and he was again successful.
1t was nearly an impossibility to him to be
natural, and no one better than he himself
knew this frailty. 1t grieved him. Spring
ing originally from morbid self-conscious-
ness, it became one of those unfortunate
circumstances connected with his lfo and
character over which he seemed to possess
no control. At last it grew to such an ex-
tent that he was quite at u loss to knew his
own natural tendencies and inclinations.
He had fitted himself to so many roles that
he could not detect the true from the false
those peculiar to his nature from those for
eign toit.
He had for some time been debating with
himself which was the best course to pur-
sue in seeking to win the Princess affec-
tons.
Should he work upon hor pityl Appear
as the unhappy, imbittored, disappointed
misanthrope, fighting against fatel Or
should no adopt the character Of sincere,
ingenious, sunny and light-heartod mani
"Better the latter" thought he. 1t
would disarm suspicion. Natalie herself
was naturally bright, hopeful, buoyant and
sunny as the clear sky. Beneath it. he
knew, lay sometimes overpowering and
deep fountain Of melancholy and sympathy
that, once set flowing, flowed TO no fruitless
end.
How no progressed in the first part OF
his scheme has been set forth. OF
course he had used little Dolores as a cats
paw in forming the acquaintance Of Ma
talie. Nor were the latter's suspicious at
all aroused. Again, the remarks of his
aunt with regard TO his troubles did not fail
Of their purpose. Had this lght-hearted
fellow troublesi If so, he concealed them
wonderfully well. His must DO a strong,
unselfsh character.
She fell to musing about hiIn. The poison
began to take effect.
, The remaining portion OF the morning
hours was devoted to music and CONVERSE
ton, so all-absorbing that Natalie failed 10
note the flight of time.
) Suddenly las had been pre-arranged by
Fairfax with Blanche) the door of the
dining-room was flung open and the table
was seen set for two guests. Blanche, who
also offlciated in the capacity of waitress,
appeared surprised when she saw Fairfax,
and exclaiming:
'Ol Madamoiselle, / beg pardonp' has
tened TO close the doors again.
: As Fairfax expected, the Princess i'm
mediately said: "Blanche, place chair for
this gentleman. Mr.. Fox, Of course you
will lunch with u.s."
Apologizing for remaining so long, he yet
accepted, and soon happy trio was seated
at the pretty little table-Natalie atsthe
head, little Dolores demurely at the foot, in
her high chair, and Mr.. Arnold Fox midway
between the twain.